Manifolding machine



Jan. 2, 1951 E 2,536,356

MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOQ, 445527246542 ATTOQN EY.

Jan. 2, 1951 A. DAGER MANIFOLDING MACHINE '6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1948 INVENTOQ BEQTDAfiEQ ATTOQN EX Jan. 2, 1951 A. DAGER MANIFOLDING MACHIN:

Filed Feb. 28, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO'R,

Ami/970M192 6y f-m BY ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1951 A. DAGER 2,535,356

MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. as, 1948 s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR,

ALBEQT DAGEQ ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1951 A. DAGER MANIFOLDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 28, 1948 INVENTOR, AL BBQT-DAGEQ ATTORNEY i atented jam. 2, 1951 MANIFOLDING MACHINE Albert Dager, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of onehalf to Elias Shaheen, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 28, 1948, Serial No. 12,037

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to means for manifolding sheets or signatures of paper in a predetermined regular order, and it has especial reference to a machine for assembling sheets in multiplicate in a rapid manner, the prime object of the invention being to provide a machine by which the steady assembling and superpositioning of sheets may be elfected speedily and automatically.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a machine in which sheets from separate stacks are predeterminably selected for removal therefrom, and delivered to carrier means in the order of their selection for subsequent individual superposition in the order required, whereby the gripping of sheets occurs simultaneously while the release of the sheets takes place in single sequence.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple means for simultaneously gripping the edges of all the sheets that are to form the multiplicate pages of a book or part thereof, and then transferring them from the area of their selection separately to the area of their collection or collation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a collating machine a mechanism in which a gripping means and delivery means coact with a predetermined interval of time in the movement of the grippin means to prevent injury to the sheets as they are simultaneously removed from the stacks.

Other objects will appear from the specification following in connection with the accompanying drawings showing certain embodiments of the invention, the formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members, and features, as described in general, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, one of the side plates being broken to illustrate parts otherwise hidden,

Figure 2 is a similar view looking from the opposite side of the machine,

Figure 3 is a plan view,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the machine, showing the paper grippers in operated position,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view showing the grippers closed upon sheets of paper and the carriage for th grippers about to be moved relative to the paper stacks,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the gripper carrying chain, and one of the grippers in the position it occupies after releasing a sheet of paper,

Figure 7 is a similar view showing one of the grippers moved to open position and the cam for efiecting such movement,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan section on line 8-8 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged plan section on the line 9-9 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line Ill-Ill of Figure 3, showing the position of the grippers preparatory to closing upon the edge of a sheet of paper,

Figure 11 is a horizontal enlarged fragmentary plan section on line !i-ll of Figure 14, showing the position of the trip mechanism preparatory to actuating the grippers,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of Figure 11,

Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the machine,

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail showing the gripper mechanism, the release actuating means therefor, the carriage, and the mechanism for moving the carriage toward and away from the paper stack,

Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional detail on line Iii-15 of Figure 14, showing the electrical control device,

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit for controlling the actuation of the vacuum means, and,

Figure 17 is a detached, side elevational view of a form of carriage modified to provide for the transportation of the sheets and deposit thereof at the end of the horizontal travel thereof relative to the table.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the foundation of the machine is shown as comprising spaced parallel plates or frames 8 and I upon which is erected a super-structure consisting of vertical and horizontal bars II and [2, respectively, combining with the base or foundation to form an integrated frame upon and within which the mechanism for accomplishing the purposes of the invention is contained, and which will be referred to as such throughout the following description.

A series of superpositioned gripping elements are employed, and each element comprises a stationary jaw l3 rigidly secured to a hollow shaft I4 and straddling a space or opening or cut-out in said shaft; and a movable jaw I 5 in said openother end has a pawl l8 fixedly connected with it. Each rod is rotatable within its hollow shaft it (Figure 14) which journals in a block l9 that a is associated with a link 20 on one of the endless chains 26; and the tubular body It is held stationary in another block 2|, that is, companion to said first named block and is mounted on a link 22' of a companion chain 22 on the other side. By means of the pawl I8 on the end oithe rod and engaging a cam 23, on the. frame plate 30, Figures 1, 6, and 7, a trigger 214, Fig. 1 1, is set to hold the jaw IE on the rotatable rod it open with respect to the fixed jaw l3 on the hollow shaft 14. This pawl 18 rotates the rod It a distance suficient to open the movable jaw 15 as it is moved into engagem nt with e extended portionpf the latch or triggerQZA. Trigger Zll'is moved from one side of pawl '98, against spring tension, to the other side, there y to hold t e jaws in open position against the torsional pres- Sufe of the s ring l7 and the rod 16. The latch or trigger 24 is provided with an exte'nsion 25, on which is mounted a spring 2511 that eonnects with the block 'I 9 and fnain'tainslthe trigger under tension and the jaws in relatively open position, Figures 10 and 14. Each for the blocks 'l9-2i heretoforereierred to, is substantially a mangelarbody providedwith 'a slot '26 and 2?, respectively, at one side for aocornmodating respectively the links 20 and 22 of thechains, as heretofore described Each pair set or the grippers are if i idue wa e d in traverse f i ep ne in continuous succession 'to relea'se one of a set of ap re s eets r i t i'e y t e 1 m just described and recapitulated as the ;pavvl IS n t end iih r tat bl 6 a d the ma mechanism that is operable to hold open the gripper jaws. I V

Th'e'chains 2i] and 522 'as heretofore noted, carry the tiihes -and rod's'th'at form part of the gripper ssembly, and also the latch mechanism 'by which the grippers are set and then released as "later set out, These chains are oontained anol operate in a carriage which ineludes a pair of parallel plates '29 and), sprockets 31 and $2, and said chains, and the gripper operatingmec'ha'nisims already detailed, ar pi'votauy mounte fora relatively small arcuate movement "to present and move the open grippers to the edges or "theshe'et or'signatures. For this purpose, each end of the lower arbor 33 on which are secured -the sprooket whe'elsf3l 'andj32 iseiitended beyond the respectlve side plates of the carriage 2 8 the ends are mounted on the ends 34 and 350i bellcranks niatjare 'rui riimed one rod at scoured to eac side'o'f'th'e rame; while theiotherfarm's 3'] rid 386i ailt m cran a e connected together by a tie plate 40. Thjeb'ell cranks, tie rod an plate constitute an integral rocking assembly that is always under'the tension 'of springs 'lll and tend to tilt forward'the a ssernbly. The bell crank'le e i ri v lsi e eiel vi e9 w us e m 42i wh h. s pt te y elfrie i l r 4 that rides over and is held inconstant oontaot with the periphery of a cam 44 by the springsl, ie emet n Th e jij j fskeved' e 'a of agshaft 46supported in suitable bearings in the frame a ean he ih i a a ef4" which meshes with gears 50 and desoribed 4 later. The rotation of the cam 44 will, therefore, rock the crank assembly and in so doing will impart to the carriage an arcuate travel defined by the movement of the bell cranks. This positive movement of the carriage by the cams 44 is in a direction away from the edges of the paper, Figure 2. The movement toward the paper to grip same occurs when the roller 43 traverses the depression. in the cam 45-, the tendency of the carriag'e to move forward or toward the paper being in response to the spring tension.

In order that the carriage shall move in its arcuate path without variance in its vertical posithin, the side members 353 and 30 of the carriage,

Figures 2 and 4, are provided near the top with a links 48 and 49 that depend from and are pivotally connected to the plates. The lower end of said links are pivotally connected to horizontal bars 52 and 53 extending forward from the superstructure of the main frame and laterally of, but freeof said plates, braces 54 and E dbcingprovided to stabilize these bars 52 and 53. The movementof the carriage as produced bythfe rocking mega; anism, therefore, occurs without oha'iiging the relative vertical position of the carriage to the conveying instrument, later described, both oi which, as stated, move'forwardtoward each other, at one time to deliver sheets into the open j'aws of the grippers and then move away from each other as the grippers are closed upon the paper. will be apparentutt where terms of direction or position are used herein, they refer mere: ly to those directions 'eiieinplified loy a'nd in the drawings, and it will be ibus' thatthe relative movements of the 'carr'iageanddel-ivery structure are preferablyalvva'ys parallel.

inasmuch as it inay be undesirable to continue,

the movement of the chains and the grippers immediately after the sheets have been caught therein, for the rea son that the forced trayerse 0f the sheets 'in very close proximity to, theabut ment' plates of the s hel vesinight damage them and render them 'u nfit for use, means are provided to interrupt the travel of :the chains for. an interval during which the carriage recedes to initial positio-n, as shown in Figure 1', and draws with -it the gripped sheets or signatures while the chains are stationary. t V 1 .n we endv e a b F ral t eir supported on the substantially upstanding arms and 35 of the bell cranks and in turn sup;

ports the carriage, is mounted a pinion "54 that is i mesh wi thex er e ar Wh hiP m r of e tra ea s udihe th ea '41: and t e a 1; thal er s me inew l e pinion '55 on a shaft 55 carrying a sheave 5] that is nnecte by ab lt wit va b es-p ed sheave h t ss i a v p r e d is be ied to a source of power, as an electric --moto r 65 Figure 1. Now, as the rocker mechanism pivots thecarriage to a forwardpositioh, the pinionjfiii, which is radial tpthe gear 51}, travels with itin planetaryf wise and, also axially. over thetetl'i off thegear 50, the rotation of the-pinion'54to the limit of the downward movement of the rockarm assembly continuing, as do also the fm ovement of the chains and its counterparts. When -the rocker assembly i shioved fro'rhits lowermost 'po- Sltldil by the 'ca'inliii to the initial position, as

pinion 54 is also moved bodily with thee but in the ame uirecuenas tne retauea' ojithc ear ee There is, therefore, 'diiringfthis r'ec s sional movement, no 'rotation "of the,

andhence no operationof thechains. I he pa-per is, therefore, i w Wee r e mer in assesseshelves 'a safe distance before the rotation of the chains is resumed to draw all the sheets gripped for superposition in multiplicate on the table 6| between the frame plates 9 and I0, Figure 3.

The gripper jaws, of whatever number employed in collating or manifolding, are collectively actuable to grip single signatures or sheets simultaneously, preparatory to depositing a series of such signatures or sheets in superposed relation, but the release of the individual sheets or signatures is eifected in continuous succession as they are deposited in their proper arrangement of superposition. The release of the triggers 24 which hold the movable jaws I of the grippers in open position, to cause them to snap shut against the stationary gripper complements IS with a sheet or signature interposed, is effected by an eccentric instrument journaled at the top in the upper part of the frame and at the bottom in a plate 62 (Figures 8 and 14), and common to all of the extensions 25 of said triggers 24. For purposes of this description, and for economy of manufacture, the instrument referred to for actuating the triggers 24 may be an elongated eccentric bar 63. The respective ends of said elongated eccentric bar are journaled as explained, and. shown more clearly in Figures 8, 11, 12 and 14. On the lower end of the bar, and substantially flush with the plate 62, is secured a finger 65, Figures 8 and 14, that is normally held in engagement with one end of a lever 66 fulorumed on said plate 62, by a torsion spring 51 that surrounds the end of the bar 63, and the ends of which are respectively secured to the rod and a post 68 threading in the plate. The spring maintaining axial torsion on the bar holds the finger 65 in engagement with the end of the lever 66 and hence, the eccentric tubular body in inoperative position, that is, out of the path of the extensions 25 of triggers 24 of the various units until a selected group is aligned with sheet edges when the eccentric instrument is oscillated to engage the selected series of triggers and release same to cause the jaws to grip the sheets or signatures.

Adjustable stop means ID are provided on the plate 62 to limit the movement of the lever 66. The prehension of all of the sheets or signatures selectively assorted by the gripping elements occurs simultaneously as heretofore stated. The means whereby this eccentric instrument is oscillated against the tension of the spring 61 coiled about the bar 63 embodies an elongated lug H secured to and projecting beyond the periphery of the cam 44, Figures 2, 4 and 14, mounted on the shaft that journals in the frame side members and is operated by the gear 41 on the shaft 45, which comprises a unit or member of the train of gears operating in unison to effect the various operations of the machine. The lug H is adapted to strike against one end of the lever 66, Figures 3, 8 and 14, during the rotation of the cam 44, thereby forcing its longer end against the finger 65 and axially rotating the bar 63 to cause the eccentric to engage and trip the extensions 25 of said triggers 24 that hold open the gripper members. The engagement of the lug II with the lever 66 is obviously but momentary and disengagement thereof is followed immediately by a return to normal of the eccentric bar 63 and of the finger and the lever in response to the torsion of the spring 67. The lever is held in its inoperative position by the adjustable stop 10,,Figures.8-14,1as.explained. In Figures 2 and 4, I have shown a means for adjusting said lug bar H to positions of varying radii for regulating the period of movement of the eccentric instrument and maintaining and regulating its operation in the accurate sequence required. This means includes an adjustable thrust screw 12, carried in a body 13 that is attached to the side of the cam 44 and having its free end in contact with the edge of the lug II. This elongated lug H, as seen, is stirruped at its inner end to straddle the shaft46, the purpose of this structure being to render it easily removable. It is arcuately adjustable relative to the cam 44 by said thrust screw 12, a bolt 14 passing through an arcuate slot 15 in the lug, being manipulated to set the lug in adjusted position, in which it cooperates with the adjusting device to regulate the timing of the eccentric bar operation. The lug H is adjustable also relative to the face of the cam 44 to vary the position of contact thereof with the lever 66 and thereby control the extent of movement of the eccentric bar that op.

erates to release the mechanism for the grippers.

This adjustment comprises a bolt H3 that threadedly engages and passes through the lug H to bear against the face of the cam relative to which the lug is thereby adjustable.

Extending horizontally over each shelf H in JhiCh are carried the stacks T8 of sheets or signatures and connected at their outer ends to adjustable supports 19 extending or projecting from a movable carrier member 89, hereinafter described, are a series of pipes 8! on each of which are mounted a air of suction elements or feet 82 for lifting the upper sheet or signature from the stacks 18. These feet are provided with openings in the bottom which communicate with the interior of the pipes 8! that are respectively connected by flexible hose sections 83 to a suc-.

tion line manifold 84 that is mounted on racks I20, I2 I, hereinafter described. The suction line manifold is connected by flexible hose 35 to a vacuum pump 86 (Figure 1) powered by the motor 69 that also operates a blower 88 for furnishing air to the sides of the stacks of paper 18, assembled on the trays 11, as later explained. The flow of air to each of the horizontal pipes 8| carrying the suction elements 82 is individually controlled by valves 89 (Figures 1 and 5) that are manually operable. One end of each of the suction feet-carrying pipes 8|, as stated, is supported in an arm 19 pivotally associated with the carrier member 88]. The free ends are covered by perforated insulated caps I89 that are provided with spaced electrical terminals 98 and 9| transversely penetrating the caps and included in an electrical circuit, diagrammatically shown in Figure 16, which also includes wires 92 and 93, the field 94 of a solenoid, a series of switches 95, and a source of power (not shown). In the end of each suction pipe 8! is inserted a hollow chamber 96 having an opening fi'i communicating with the suction pipe interior and housing a plunger 98 having a conical head 89 for engagement with the aforesaid terminals 96 and SI. The head 99 of the plunger is part of stem I00, about which is coiled a helical spring lill that tends normally to urge the plunger head 99 thereof into contact with said terminals. When suction is maintained within the pipes 8|, the plunger head 99 is held seated against the outer edge of said chamber and hence out of contact with the terminals SI and 92, and this occurs during the normal operation of alternately creating and interrupting the suction in the pipes, respectively, to lift and release a sheet or signature to the grippers. If, for any reason, the suction efiect is interferred with, the plunger 90 will be released to respond to the tension of the helical spring IOI, which forces the head into contact with theterminals 90 and 9|. Thereby an electrical circuit is completed, which causes the armature I02 of the solenoid to lift. This solenoid is connected by a suitable support I03 with a bar tile, Fig. 13, that mounts a roller I05 which is in constant engagement with a cam I06 keyed or otherwise fastened on a shaft I01 which mounts the gear 5-]. The armature I02 of the solenoid is provided with a foot I08 that normally is interposed between the block I09 011 the bar I04 and the end of a rack bar I) that is parallel with said first named bar I04 and juxtaposed in relation thereto, a suitable guide III being provided to direct the travel of both the bar and rack in a rectilinear directionas presently detailed. The bar and rack are each under the tension of a spring II2- I I3, respectively, by which the cam roller I05 of the bar is maintained permanently in contact with the cam I85 and the ends of the bar and of the rack are mounted to reciprocate in a plate IM that is connected to the frame, the said springs being interposed between the said plate III and collars II5 and H6, respectively, secured thereon. The forward movement of the rack II'O beyond the area occupied by the foot E 68 when removed or lifted by' the solenoid, i prevented by a pin ill, or other device that may convenientlyenga'g'e the rack rodi It which is preferably circular, and bears against the outside of the plate I It. As stated, the solenoid is a part of the bar I04 and hence travels with it. When the foot I08 of the solenoid is disposed between the end of the rack and the block I09, the movement of the bar I04 by the cam 06 engaging the cam roller Hi5, carries with it the rack H3 and thereby both the bar and rack are reciprocated for purposes presently appearing. When, onclosin-g of the circuit, by contact of the cone head 99 of the plunger QS with the terminals as and 91, the foot I08 connected with the armature I02 of the solenoid is withdrawn, the rack H8 under the spring influence, will remain stationary, while the bar We will continue tobe reciprocated by the rotationof the cam It; During such-reciprocation, the block 103 is moved only into close proximity with the end of the rack H0 which remains inactive. of this bar and rack structure and the contemporaneous and relative movements, is respec tively to advance the carrier memberfiil with the sheets of paper or signatures captured by the suction feet 8'2 for convenient seizing by the grippers, and 'tohold the carrier member against advance movement when for any reason the suction in any one of the pipes fails. In .the latter event, the electrical circuit is closed by the plunger and the foot m8 of the solenoid is lifted from the space-between the block [.09 and the end of the rack MB, which is held in fixed for ward position by the pin LI 1.. The continued operation ,or rotation of the cam .illii merely reciprocates the bar IM but the rack It?) remains stationary until the interposition of the solenoid foot I108 between its end and the :block m9 is effected gravitationally, or by spring action, as the circuit is interrupted by reestablishment of the vacuum in the pipes BI .and the suction feet 82;

The purpose The carrier assembly for the suction pipes and its suction. feet consists generally of a vertical member mounted at one side of the fram to reciprocate vertically throu h uides I 18 that are conected to the stationary plate II parallel withsaid movable member 80, and spaced therefrom, and companion to a rear frame plate I2. The guide I I8 is of suflicient length to enable the carrier member 80 to travel horizontally for a short distance, Figure 1 3 as later explained. The

vertically movable member 80 or carrier that supe. ports the horizontal vacuum pipes 8I with their suction feet 82 is operable rociprocably through close fitting lower and upper guides H9 con:- nected. with a pair of horizontal racks I20 and lil connected together by a vertical member I22 and supporting the vacuum line manifold 84, the ver; tical member containing a plurality of switches 65-one in each circuit, which includes the termlnals and SI disposed in the caps I89 of thevacuum pipes 8|, referred to.

In mesh with the horizontal racks I20 and I2I are pinions I243 and I25, respectively, that are keyed on a vertical shaft I26 tensioned by a torsion spring I21 which is journaled for rotation in suitable upper, intermediate, and lower bearings I28; 29, I30, forming parts'of the frame. On the shaft I26 is also a pinion I3I that is in mesh with the aforementioned rack IIO, Figure 13. It will be noted that the teeth of the rack He that cooperates with the bar I04 are out.- wardly directed while the teeth ofthe two upper racks 26, I21 are inwardly directed, so that a rearward movement of the main rack H0 through the agency of the cam I06 rotates the shaft and the pinions thereon clockwise, thereby producing a forward movement of the upper andintermediate racks that are in mesh'with'the' upper andintermediate pinions. Obviously, a reverse movement of theupper and intermediate racks 12a and I'ZI, that is, rearwardly, occurs when-themain rack H0 is moved forward under the tension of the springs I12, I155. The for.- Ward movement of the upper and intermediate racks moves forwardly the vacuum pipes-carr'y-' ing member 80 to deliver a captured sheet or signature to the grippers. However, since the sheets or signatures are arranged in stacks or piles onse'parated shelves ll, that are adjustably mounted; and the ends Offti'l'e sheets or signatures are arranged against abutment plates I31 that are permanently secured to .a portion of the i in continuoussequence be elevated after-the sheet is attached to the feet, which attachmentoccurs rearward-1y of the front edge of each sheet a shortndistance, for the essential purpose of I carrying the sheets over andlbeyond the ledges of thershelfies and presenting the'free edges theretop of the abutment plates to bepresented to and Within the open jaws of thegrippers and since the :vacuum pipes ati are connected to the movable member 80, this member is mounted for elevation relative to the guides I I'll. For this purpose, it is provided with a roller" I 33 that rides the periphery of .a cam 134 that is keyed on a shaft I101; journ'aled in the frame, by which cam the member '85 is elevated a'nd then, following the periphery lofgthe loam, returns to initial position. The forward movement of the member 80 follows the upward movement thereof for the sequential operation of lifting the sheets and disposing the edges thereof in the open jaws of the grippers simultaneously. If now there is a failure of the vacuum in any of the p pes carrying the suction feet, the plunger 98 in the particular cap affected, will contact the terminals 90 and 9| therein and close an electrical circuit to the solenoid, the armature Hi2 of which is lifted and carries the foot I03 from between the end of the rack I If? and the block I09. Thereby the rack III}, companion to the bar I54, remains stationary, while the bar I02 continues to reciprocate under the action of the cam Iii6. There is, therefore, no forward movement of the member or carrier E9, but the vertical reciprocation of the member continues, as does also the maintenance of a vacuum in the other pipes sufficient to hold the sheets in contact with the feet.

Referring to the multiple switch-carrying bar I22 and the manifold vacuum pipe 84 from which stem the various vacuum pipes Ill, it will be seen that when all of the switches 95 are closed, and all of the valves are open, the operation of lifting each top sheet or signature from the stacks of the various shelves occurs in normal sequence, namely, to close the vacuum valve I35 to move the vacuum feet upward and forward, to open the vacuum valve to release the sheets held to the feet, and to return the vacuum pipes to normal initial beginning. When the vacuum valve I35 is opened and sheets are delivered to grippers I3, I5, and the condition of vacuum in the pipes no longer exists to hold the plunger I iii] away from the terminals 99, 9|, the circuit would ordinarily be closed at once to the solenoid and the foot use removed from between the end of the rack I It? and the block I99. This would cause the solenoid foot to pull against the pressure of the I mittent or predetermined relief of the vacuum in the pipes 8|, while permitting the plungers to contact the terminals 98 and SI, will not thereby close the circuit to the solenoid, because of an auxiliary switch I35 in the circuit, which is adapted to be operated by the rack bar I29 when moving rearwardly to close the circuit, but breaks the circuit when the bar moves forwardly. The closing of the vacuum valve I35 occurs simultaneously with the downward movement of the carrier member so. Hence, during the forward movement of the suction feet, the rack IZIl opens the switch and the circuit in which it is included to prevent thereby the energization of the solenoid. It will be apparent that when any one or more of the valves on the air manifold are closed and also the switches that are companions to these valves, are open, the conveyance of the sheets or signatures may be selectively controlled and this is important where the collation of them is intended to be limited to less than a maximum provided by the design of the machine.

The sheets or signatures are arranged in stacks, and the stacks are respectively supported on superposed shelves l"! between the frame sides. These shelves are adjustable automatically as the stack diminishes in the course of collation to cause the upper sheets of each stack to maintain a substantially fixed distance from the suction feet and thereby to avoid a pick-up failure. These shelves 7! are shown supported by two pairs of arms I38 and I38 which are secured to oppositely disposed shafts I39 and I49 journalecl in the frame and mounting at an end thereof intermeshing spur gears I II, I42, one of which is meshed with a pinion I43 forming a counterpart of a ratchet wheel I44 fixed to an axle I45 in the frame and carrying a handwheel I 2-5 by which the adjustment of the arms I38, I38 may be effected manually. These arms I33, I33 are substantially cranks and are angularly disposed relative to each other in opposite directions and engage the under side of the tables or shelves laterally. Each ratchet wheel axle I45 is under the tension of a torsion spring I45, which comes into play to revolve the shafts I39, I as and operate the shelf moving arms I38, I38 when the ratchet wheels I M. are respectively released by operation of pawls I I'I, Figure 2, and these pawls Ml are fulcrumed on the frame and are pivotally connected to a bar I48 that is vertically movable in guides Hi8 connected. to the frame by a horizontal lever I to which said bar is intermediately pivoted. One end of the lever I59 is pivoted on the frame and the free end rides upon a cam I5I, Figure 13, Figure 2, that is secured upon the horizontal shaft I9! journaled in the frame and mounting on the other side or end thereof the aforedescribed cams Hi6 and I34 with which the roller IE5 on the bar I EM is in engagement to be operated thereby. A companion cam I52 is mounted on said shaft IE7 and is diametrically larger, as seen in Figure 2. Upon the periphery of this larger cam rides a roller I53, rotatably mounted on the lower end of a bar I54 that is parallel to said first-named bar I 48. By means of a series of cranks I55 pivoted to said bar and pinned or otherwise secured to the ends of shafts I555, Figure 2, iournaled in the frame, these shafts are oscillated as the bar I54 is moved by the cam I52. The horizontal shafts I56 mount crank arms I5? that are connected by links III!) with similar crank arms I58 on transverse shafts I59 suitably supported above the surface of the tables or shelves. The operation of the transverse shafts I59 by the respective upward movements of the crank arms I51, I58 occurs counter-clockwise and in so doing moves regulator IIiI to a position which the top sheet of the stock should occupy. The transverse shafts I 59 for this purpose are furni hed with longitudinal flat keys or sp ines I I52 (Figures 3, 10), the movement of which. w th the rotation of the shafts I 59, is translated to the regulators IiiI. Immediately succeeding the operation of this re ulator IcI', the bar I48 is actuated by the cam I5I to release the pawls Ml from engagement with the ratchet wheels IM, whereupon the torsion springs M5 rotate the pinion axles I45 whereby the lifting arms I38. I38 are moved against the tables or shelves I! and elevated to cause the top of the paper stack to move into contact with the regu lator ISI disposed in previously set position. This position is the one which the stack should occupy for the vacuum feet to engage. The regulator is then returned to normal position by the reverse oscillation of the transverse shaft I59, as the cam hi2 causes the bar I55 to drop in following the periphery of said cam I52. This action is preceded by a movement of the lever I55 that is operated by the smaller of the companion cams I 5! to move said parallel bar is downwardly,

thereby to cause the pawls I4! to re-ensage the ratchet wheels I44. The immediate purpose of this mechanism and the operation ensuing is to maintain the stock of the paper stack at such height that the suction feet will always seize the topmost sheet.

It will be observed, as hereinbefore described, that the movement of the individual sheets or signatures occurs in an upward and forward direction, the movements being sequential in order to lift the top sheet or signature from the stack and then to move it into the mouth of the open jaws or grippers, thereupon operated to close and seize the presented edge of the paper, as explained. The grippers, therefore, have a forward movement contemporaneously with the forward movement of the sheets by the mechanism'and in the manner previously described. (The term forward applies to the point at which sheets and gripper jaws meet for engagement.)

Means are provided'to maintain in alignment the lateral edges of the sheets or signatures 16 of the various superposed stacks, and also to facilitate the separation and the elevation seriatim of the individual sheets or signatures by the suction devices alluded to heretofore. An example of these means is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 13 and embodies vertically disposed pipes I65, I66 positioned at the respective sides of the paper stack. These pipes are closed at one end and at their other ends are connected by means of flexible hose sections I61, Figure 4, to the blower 88. Each pipe, substantially adjacent .e'ach stack of sheets, is longitudinally slitte-d, as

at I68, Figure 14, whereby a stream of air is continuously directed against the sides of the paper.

' These pipes I65, I66 are respectively movable into close proximit to or into contact with the lateral stack walls and their movement is implemented by horizontal rods I69, I19 which are provided with right and left hand threads. The rod I69 is extended through heads HI and I12, respectively, on said pipes I65, I66 and the ends of said rod I69 are supported for rotation in bearings I13, I14 secured to the superstructure of the frame. To one end of the rod I69 is fixed a crank I15 by which the rotation of the rod I 69 and thereby the movement of the pipes I65, I66 relative to each other and to the edges of the stack is effected. The rod I16 which parallels the rod I69 is synchronously operated with the rod I69 and for this purpose, mounts thereon heads I16, I11 that are respectively connected with the vertical air pipes I65, I66. To the end of the rod I69 is keyed a vertical bevel gear H8, that is in mesh with a horizontal bevel gear I19 on one end of a shaft I89. On the other end of the shaft I80 is keyed a horizontal bevel gear I6I that meshes with a vertical bevel gear I82 secured to the rod I10. Thus, by operation of the crank I15, the vertically positioned air pipes I65, I66 are operated by the left and right hand threaded rods I 69 and I19, toward or awa from each other, and hence toward and away from the lateral edges of the paper stock.

The vacuum valve I35 is provided with a stem I85, the end of which is pivotally connected centrally of and to a lever I86 pivoted at one end to one side plate 9. This lever I86 is spring-held normally against a stop I81, in which position the free end I88 of said lever is disposed in line with the movement of said rack III), by which it is operated to open the vacuum valve I35 when said rack moves rearwardly and the paper is thereby carried forwardly. This opening of the valve H35 is timed to occur simultaneously with the gripgoing of the edges of the sheets by the gripping aws.

Heretofore. I have described the carriage Z8 as composed of a pair of parallel plates 29 and 30, between which is mounted the mechanism by which the grippers are conveyed from one location to another for the purposes set forth. Where the stock is thin and hard to handle, the collation or regular imposition of one sheet upon another in the required sequence might be interfered with because the gravitational travel of very light stock, as onionskin, carbon paper, etc., when released from the grippers would be considerably retarded by a buoyant atmosphere and thereby the sheets, or some of them, would be collected inloose disorder or in other than the flat form required. This is owing chiefly to the fact that momentum would be depended upon to carry the released sheets to their point of final deposit, beyond the point of release from the grippers. In Figure 17, I have illustrated a. design of carriage by which the release of the sheets is effected at the end of a horizontal travel relative to the table 6|, whereupon the assembly of the sheets takes place. I y

In that design, 1e carriage embodies the same elements as parallel plates 29 and 36, that are mounted as herebefore described; but at the bottom of each plate and extending therefrom are arms I that are rigidly secured to the bottom of the plate and are held substantially in a horizontal plane by reinforce braces 2. At their free ends, these arms I are connected with the topof the plates 29 and 36 by said angled reinforce braces or struts 2.

4. secured on a shaft 5 that is journaled in the ends of each said arm I, the shaft 5 being in the same horizontal plane as the shaft 39 on which the sprockets 9i are mounted. The travel of the chains 29 and 22 over the sprockets 4 and 3| is substantiall in a horizontal plane. Therefore, after a selected group of the grippers have been actuated to grip a selected group of sheets, they are carried to the extreme end of the table 6| before being released individually, and at this point, they are successively deposited upon thetable of previously collated stock, gravitationally in a straight line, which is vertical in this instance, and without impedance.

In operation, stacks 1B of paper or other material, are placed on shelves 11 that are supported for adjustment relative to a plurality of series of vacuum feet 82. These feet are mounted to be moved into engagement with the top sheet of each stack and then to be operated in an upward and forward direction to carry the edge of the top sheet over and beyond the shelf abutments to present the free front edges of the sheets to a series of traveling grippers which are selectively operated to close upon the paper edges to grip a selected group of the sheets so presented. It will be apparent from the foregoing description, that a selected group or series of these grippers is continuously operated to grip simultaneously a series of sheets while in motion but that the sheets are individuall released to the stack of manifolds on the receiving table. The grippers and the assembly, of which they constitute a part, after closing on the paper edges, move away from the stacks or shelves, in order to draw the sheet-edges away a distance sufficient to prevent injury to them when the travel of the grippers is resumed, their travel having been interrupted during this recessional In this form, the sprocket arrangement includes an additional one a plurality of stacks of paper in separated spaced relation, pneumatic means to lift the top sheet of each stack, means to move said lifting means to carry the sheets so lifted forward and away from the stack, a plurality of gripper means, a

carriage, chain andsprocket means on said carriage supporting said gripper means in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing between the stacks of paper, means to operate said chains and thereby carry the gripper means relative to the sheets move forward, means to move said carriage toward the lifted paper, means to operate said gripper means to grip the edges of the sheet when so moved forward, means to interrupt the movement of said chains when the gripper means is in sheet engagement, means to move said carriage and gripped sheets away from the stack and simultaneously interrupt the travel of said chains when so moved, and means to operate said gripper means sequentiall to release a gripped sheet.

2. In a device as disclosed: means supporting stacks of paper in spaced relation, means to remove the top sheet from each of said stacks, a frame, a carriage movable relative thereto, an endless chain mounted to travel on said carriage, a plurality of gripper elements mounted on said chain and spaced apart in accordance with the gripping elements during such latter movement of said carriage, and means for releasing the sheeets from the gripper elements so that a collated stack may be formed.

3. In a machine of the type disclosed, a plurality of spaced shelves having front abutments for stacks of paper, pneumatic means to engage the top sheet of each stack, a carrier for said penumatic means, a frame, a carriage mounted for movement upon said frame, a plurality of gripper elements spaced apart in accordance with the spacing between stacks of paper on said carriage movable in endless sequence relative thereto, means to move said carrier upwardly and forward and thereby cause the edges of the respective sheets to be projected beyond said abutments, means to move said carriage toward said projected edges, means to operate said gripper elements to close upon said edges, said moving means being adapted to move said carriage away from the abutments with the sheets of the respective stacks gripped and simultaneously to interrupt the travel of said gripper elements, and means for releasing the sheets from the gripper elements so that a collated stack may be formed.

4. In a machine of the type disclosed, a plurality of superposed shelves for stacks of sheets, said shelves having abutments for aligning the front edges of the stacks, pneumatic means to engage the top sheet of each stack, a carrier for said pneumatic means, means to move the carrier upwardly and forwardly to project the sheets beyond and free of the abutments, a frame, a carriage, movable relativel thereto, an endless chain andsprocket mechanism on said carriage provided with a series of spaced gripper elements, means to operate said chains, said endless chains having a straight course of travel in proximity to the sheet edges, means to move said. carriage forward to align the gripper elements with the projected edges of the sheets, means to operate said gripper elements to grip the sheets, said carriage being movable rearwardly to draw the gripped sheets away from the abutments, and means for releasing the sheets from the gripper elements so that a collated stack may be formed.

5. In a machine of the type disclosed, a series of superposed shelves having abutments, the shelves adapted to hold stacks of paper, means to lift the top sheet of each stack and carry it above and beyond the abutments, a carriage, a, series of spaced gripper elements, endless chains to which said gripper elements are secured, sprockets journaled in said carriage and mounting said chains, a driving gear, a pinion on said carriage radial to and in mesh with said gear for driving said sprocket and chain, said endless chains having a straight course of travel adjacent to the sheet edges a rocking assembly including an axis upon which said carriage is mounted, the said driving gear being coaxial with the rocking axis of the carriage and means to operate said rocking assembly in one direction to move the carriage forward and the gripper ele-- ments into engagement with the paper edge and in another direction to move the carriage and pinion rearward whereby during each rearward movement the travel of the gripper elements is interrupted, and means for releasing the sheets from the ripper elements so that a collated stack may be formed.

6. In a machine of the type disclosed, a series of superposed shelves adapted to hold stacks of paper, means to lift the top sheet of each stack and carr it beyond the front edge thereof, a series of gripper means, a carriage, endless chains on said carriage on which said gripper means are mounted in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing between the stacks of paper, means to cause travel of said chains, the chains having a straight course of travel adjacent the sheet edges, means to move the carriage forward to cause the gripper means to grip the front edges of selected sheets, and rearward to draw forward the gripped sheets and simultaneously interrupt the travel of said chains and the gripper means thereon, and means for releasing the sheets from the gripper means so that a collated stack may be formed.

7. In a machine of the character disclosed, a series of superposed shelves adapted to hold stacks of paper, means to lift and carry the top sheet of each stack beyond the front edge thereof, a carriage, endless chains on said carriage provided with a series of spaced apart gripper means the spacing corresponding to the spacing between the stacks of paper, a pinion on said carriage for operating said chains, a drivin gear meshing with said pinion, said endless chains having a straight course of travel adjacent the sheet edges, a mount for said carriage, means to rock said mount in one direction to move the carriage to cause the gripper means to engage the paper edges, means to operate a selected group of said gripper means simultaneously to grip a selected group of sheets, said carriage being rockable in the opposite direction t draw the gripped sheets away from the stacks and the pinion relative to said driving gear whereby the chains are intermittently held inoperative, and means for releasing the gripper means from,

sheet engagement whereby a collated stack thereof may be formed.

8. In a machine of the character disclosed, a plurality of superposed shelves for supporting stacks of paper, pneumatic means for picking the top sheet of each stack, a carrier for said pneumatic means, a cam for elevating said carrier, a cam for moving forward said carrier simultaneously with the elevation thereof to elevate said pneumatic means and move forward the top sheets of the stacks, a frame, a rocker pivoting on the frame, a carriage mounted on said rocker and having chains and sprockets, a driving gear coaxial with the rocker axis of the carriage, a pinion on said carriage in mesh with said gear to drive said chains, a plurality of gripper means carried by said chains in spaced relation, 'said chains having a straight course of travel adjacent the sheet edges, means to operate said rocker in one direction and move forward the carriage to cause the gripper means to grip the edges of the forwardly moved paper, means to operate said rocker in another direction to move the carriage with the gripped paper away from the stack and the pinion relative tothe gear to interrupt the travel of said chains during such movement, and means to release the sheets from the gripper means in continuous succession so that a collated stack may be formed.

9. In a machine of the character disclosed, a frame, a series of superposed shelves for supporting stacks of paper, pneumatic means for lifting the top sheet from each stack and projecting it beyond the front edge thereof, a carriage, shafts journaled in said carriage, and

mounting sprockets for endless chains, a pinion on one of said shafts, a driving gear in mesh with said pinion, a rocker pivoted on said frame and supporting said carriage, a plurality of gripper means carried by said chains in spaced relation, means to pivot said rocker to move said carriage forward and the ripper means into gripping position, means to operate a selected group of said gripper means when so moved for- Ward, means to pivot said rocker to move the carriage and gripped sheets rearward and effect bodily movement of said pinion relative to the rotating gear to interrupt the travel of said chains, and means for releasing the sheets from the gripper means so that a collated stack may be formed.

10. In a machine of the character disclosed, a frame, a series of superposed shelves for supporting stacks of paper, pneumatic means for lifting the top sheet from, each stack and projecting it beyond the front edge thereof, a carria-ge, a sprocket and chain assembly journaled to travel in said carriage, a pinion and gear to drive said chain, a series of equally spaced gripper means carried by said chain, means on said frame and gripper means and mutuall engageable to open said gripper means during the travel thereof, means tomove the carriage forward to align a selected group of said open gripper means in gripping position, means to operate saidselected group of open gripper means to grip the projected edge of the paper, means to move the carriage away from the stack with the paper gripped and simultaneously interrupt the travel of said gripper chains during such movement, and means to release the sheets from the gripper means in continuous succession so that a collated stack may be formed.

11. In a machine of the type disclosed, a frame, a plurality of shelves supporting stacks of paper to be manifolded, adjustable pneumatic means for engaging the top sheet of each stack, a bar on which said pneumatic means is mounted, a cam to lift said bar, a cam to move said bar forwardly substantially synchronously with the elevation thereof thereby to lift and move the top sheet from and project itbeyond the front edge of each stack, a carriage, shafts journaled in said carriage, sprocket and chain means mounted on said shafts, a pinion on one of said shafts, a gear in mesh with said pinion to drive said sprockets and chains, a rocker on which said carriage is pivoted, said rocker journalin in the frame for oscillatory movement, a cam, springs to hold said rocker in engagement with said cam, said cam being rotatable to tilt said rocker in one direction to move the carriage toward the projected paper, and in another directionaway from the stacks, said pinion being moved with respect to the gear and bodil with the carriage and in the same direction as the direction of rotation of said gear, thereby to interrupt the travel of said chains during such reverse movement, and gripper means carried by said chains and singly operable to open position at one time and severally operable to closed position at another time.

ALBERT DAGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,432,890 Neely Oct. 24, 1922 1,579,469 Cooper l Apr. 6, 1926 2,308,804 Dager Jan. 19, 1943 2,389,066 Leifer Nov. 13, 1945 2,402,442 Perry June 18, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 641.757 Germany Feb. 12, 1937 

